There is a place for Gloucester's uncapped rugby league convert Henry Paul, who has trained regularly with England this autumn, while Lawrence Dallaglio features among six other players who were not involved during recent Tests against Australia, South Africa and Romania.

Bath's versatile Balshaw and Wasps' hooker Phil Greening were high-profile casualties following the Ireland setback, while Dawson, Corry and Lewsey have all encountered varying injury problems.

Of the development squad, Newcastle's Dave Walder can consider himself unfortunate to miss out on senior recognition, while injury-hit centres Leon Lloyd and Ben Johnston are both handed chances to re-establish themselves.

South Africa-born Wasps centre Stuart Abbott is another inclusion, together with London Irish flanker Declan Danaher and Sale's exciting new wing Mark Cueto.

Spice said: "We are delighted to announce our first England elite player squad, which comprises Clive Woodward's England senior squad and the newly-formed England development squad.

"The players' programmes will be jointly managed by the club's directors of rugby and the relevant England coaches in order to maximise performances for the individuals concerned.

"This is not necessarily a squad of the best 60 players in the country, as it has been selected with one eye on the present and one on the future.

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the players concerned, and to thank the directors of rugby and the England coaches at all levels for their input into this process.

"It has been facilitated by the signing of the England Rugby Limited agreement, which has also dictated the timing.

"From now on, the elite player squad will be reviewed annually, with the first review coming in July 2002 in preparation for the 2002-03 season."

All 12 Zurich Premiership clubs have at least one player in the elite group, with champions Leicester boasting most representatives, followed by Bath.

England kick off their Lloyds TSB Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 2, while there will also be the usual round of A team internationals.

A tour of South Sea islands Fiji, Samoa and Tonga is scheduled in the summer, with the squad emphasis for that planned three-Test trip likely to be on development.